My Datsun 280Z "Rustoration"

[HaZmatt]

Thanks guys!

[HaZmatt]

Been busy the last couple days working on getting the front end done. Finally finished tonight and I think it turned out pretty good. I have the Xenon uerethane air dam with the 240Z parking lights, 240Z fiberglass bumpers, and a modified 240Z grill. 

 

I had some help from my dogs. 

 

 

First I attached the air dam using some plastic rivets and 10mm bolts

 

 

I ended up cutting out a couple inches of the center area that is always wavy. This made it a little more flimsy so I fabbed up some brackets out of 1/4"x3/4" steel strips I got at Lowes. I painted them flat black.

 

 

I used a factory mounting point and the bracket goes down to the bottom lip of the air dam where I riveted it to the dam.

 

 

From underneath

 

 

Riveted the bottom

 

 

 

I then realized that my factory turn signal mounts were very white and would show through the grill so I masked off the car and sprayed them flat black. I should've done this a long time ago but oh well, now I know.

 

 

 

 

 

With my air dam nice and secure I started on the bumper brackets. I purchased a set online from somewhere when I got the bumpers and they were complete garbage. I then tried using some factory 240z brackets but they were going to be way too much to make them work, So I decided to make my own.

 

I recommend attaching the bumper on the sides first then taping it up where you want it. Then carefully measure for the brackets and make them fit to the bumper not the other way around (if that makes sense)

 

I used 1/4"x1 1/4' steel strip and simply made an L bracket.

 

 

Cut off the excess

 

 

Put a slight twist in  the bracket side that attaches to the bumper

 

 

Drilled my holes

 

 

I removed my horns for better access

 

 

Test fit

 

 

 

Painted flat black as well

 

 

Then mounted. They're attached to the bumper by a 10mm bolt and nut

 

 

 

 

 

Now for the grill

 

I bought a 240Z grill and basically just swapped the top bar with the one off of my 280Z grill, that way I can use the 2 factory mounting points up top.

 

 

 

Sanded it down and painted it a semi gloss black. 

 

 

 

Installed the grill. The front end is done!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 21, 2015 by HaZmatt

[EuroDat]

Really nice work on the bumper and grill mod. Thanks for the tip on swapping the top bar. I have a 240 grill and was wondering how to attach it.

[Patcon]

I have a xenon air dam I will be using. I had figured I would have to reinforce it too, as they flex a lot a speed. I had thought I would fab a bar all the way across the bottom on the inside lip and attach that to bracket in a similar way to what you did. That way the bottom edge couldn't flex and would hold its shape. All your work looks great. You are getting close

Charles

[240260280z]

I like the custom brackets! Nice work.

[HaZmatt]

Really nice work on the bumper and grill mod. Thanks for the tip on swapping the top bar. I have a 240 grill and was wondering how to attach it.

Thanks! You also need to remove a small bracket on each side of the 240 grille thats riveted on. 

[HaZmatt]

I have a xenon air dam I will be using. I had figured I would have to reinforce it too, as they flex a lot a speed. I had thought I would fab a bar all the way across the bottom on the inside lip and attach that to bracket in a similar way to what you did. That way the bottom edge couldn't flex and would hold its shape. All your work looks great. You are getting close

Charles

 

Thanks Charles, yeah if I were to do it again I would've gone with the fiberglass dam. But it is nice to have a little flexibility.

[wheee!]

Nice dogs Matt! I knew we had a lot in common. I've owned Bostons and bulls for years too. Sadly they're all gone now.

[Patcon]

Matt,

I had the fiberglass air dam on an earlier Z. It doesn't take curbs or parking strips well and a chicken in the road at 55 mph made a mess out of it.

Charles

[240260280z]

Matt,

I had the fiberglass air dam on an earlier Z. It doesn't take curbs or parking strips well and a chicken in the road at 55 mph made a mess out of it.

Charles

 

 

 

If you aimed higher you could have had Grilled Chicken...... groan.

[240260280z]

Matt,

I had the fiberglass air dam on an earlier Z. It doesn't take curbs or parking strips well and a chicken in the road at 55 mph made a mess out of it.

Charles

 

 

Words of wisdom. You will always lose if you play Chicken with a chicken. X2 Groan

[Patcon]

That's funny, I don't care who you are...

C